Basic Study for Developing Silk Protein Containing Unnatural Functional Groups

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The genes encoding phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase (PheRS) were cloned from the silk glands of silkworm, Bombyx mori. Based on the sequence comparison with PheRSs from other organisms, residues responsible for discriminating phenylalanine (Phe) from others were identified, and these residues were mutated to amino acids with smaller side chains to obtain five mutant PheRS genes. In vitro assays revealed that the PheRS mutant with Ala 450 to Gly mutation recognizes Phe analogs bearing Cl and Br at the para position of the phenyl ring.